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Council approves Mill Branch Crossing drive-through detailed site plan with pedestrian connection and outdoor seating
Summary
The council unanimously approved Detailed Site Plan DSP-2025-000036 for a drive-through eating-and-drinking establishment at Mil Branch Crossing. The applicant agreed to add a pedestrian connection (a small pedestrian bridge over a wetland area) to the adjacent inline retail and to add outdoor seating along the spine road; council and staff discussed landscaping, crosswalks and accessible parking.
The Buoie City Council unanimously approved Detailed Site Plan DSP-2025-000036 for an eating-and-drinking establishment with a drive-through at Mil Branch Crossing during its June 1 meeting.
Staff introduced the proposal as an outlot development within a larger mixed-use Mill Branch Crossing project. Attorney Edward Gibbs and the project team described site circulation (one-way internal circulation off St. Lola Lane, 60'angled parking, 30-foot driveways), a planned pedestrian connection to the adjacent inline retail building (a pedestrian bridge over a wetland), and commitments to add outdoor seating facing St. Lola Lane.
Council members pressed the applicant on landscaping, shade trees, placemaking/arts opportunities, accessible parking locations and crosswalks between residential and commercial areas. Civil engineer Tim Longfellow said the frontage includes a stormwater facility that will be landscaped and that specific plant lists can be added to technical permit drawings. The applicant committed to work with city staff on outdoor seating and pedestrian connections. Project representatives estimated store construction and opening in mid-2027 if permits proceed on schedule.
The motion to approve the detailed site plan included staff recommendations and the applicant's commitment to incorporate outdoor seating; the motion passed unanimously. The plan will next proceed to the county planning board as part of the project's established entitlement path.
Why it matters: The approval clears a step toward a new commercial node on US-301/Mil Branch Road that the developer says will build out with inline retail and a grocery site; council conditioned design items that focus on pedestrian connections and streetscape improvements.
